David Cassidy on the Web
For Kid's Sake
April 17, 2002
By Elizabeth Foyt
www.lasvegassun.com
Headquartered in Las Vegas, KidsCharities.org is a nonprofit, Internet-based organization that serves as an umbrella for a multitude of productive children's charities, including Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Chances for Children, Special Olympics and City of Hope.
Founder Sue Shifrin-Cassidy, a Las Vegas resident, is proud to explain her organization has distributed approximately $290,000 to 30 charities in just two years. The funds have benefited emergency and medical care for children around the globe, in addition to impacting programs fostering the fine arts, the environment and education for children in our community.
Thinking creatively, kidscharities.org's online auctions, sponsored by Internet search engine Yahoo!, have included Valentine's Day events made possible by Ethel M Chocolates, which contributed velvet heart-shaped boxes of chocolates autographed by such stars as Muhammad Ali, Jack Nicholson, Cher, Elizabeth Taylor, David Cassidy and others. Equally successful have been events including the annual David Cassidy Celebrity Golf Tournaments, Totally Groovy Polyester Ball, the Desert Passage Mystery Tour at Aladdin and, most recently in New York City, the Sotheby's Night of Miracles, which included the sale of the original Santa Claus suit from "Miracle on 34th Street," donated by Las Vegas-based americabilia.com.
Recently the Stirling Club at Turnberry Place, with General Manager Brad Millsap, provided support by hosting an elegant luncheon for Las Vegas contributors and charitable recipients. The occasion, marking the charity's two-year anniversary, was enlivened by the presence of Shifrin-Cassidy and her husband, David Cassidy, who serves as the organization's spokesman. With the Cassidys were KidsCharities.org board trustees Sandy and Roger Peltyn, who have chaired local efforts on behalf of the charity.
Included in the gathering were Rose Dominguez, Dawn Merritt, David Griego, Whitney Thier, Cindy Wirth, Julie Murray, Sloane Arnold, Nancy Arrington, Mandy Elliot and Mercedes Warrick.
Local charities receiving funds during luncheon ceremonies were Special Olympics of Nevada, City of Hope, Emerging Artists Fund and the Mike Maddux Foundation. Listening attentively to the program were guests including Fleeta Goldstein, Rob Wilner, Barbara Silver, Robyn Hadden, Linda Crane, Eric Polis, Cynthia Dunn, Melanie Van Burch and Judy Fleischman.
Ongoing efforts to help children through online auctions and announcements of special events are available at kidscharities.org. The 4th Annual David Cassidy Celebrity Charity Golf Tournament will be held in association with the EAT'M Conference beginning May 28 in Las Vegas, with proceeds to benefit Las Vegas children.
